Storm AIG!!! Get the Pitchforks!!!

Let me start by saying that I don't like the idea of AIG giving out bonuses out one bit. It is hypocrisy at its worst; a company that clearly is failing rewarding its employees.

That said, the Democrats and President Obama are showing the ugliness of class warfare, at a level that could only make Venezuela's Hugo Chavez proud. Let us just start a mob, get the pitchforks, and storm the AIG building...All of this is largely because our Congress failed. They failed to peform their duty; due dilligance on the TARP would have been able to cut out these loopholes. But Democrats and Hank Paulson said we could not wait; well, this is the result. This is more about the incompetence of our government than the unethical behavior of Wall Street.

AIG now states that 73 people got more than $1 million in bonuses. Remember the Congress putting in executive limits on pay? Well, they did...but Democrat Chris Dodd gave them an exemption for bonuses. So whose fault is this anyway?

Now President Obama pushes his administration to get back the money, knowing that Timonthy Geithner and his Treasury Department o.k'd these bonuses just this past weekend. Mr. Obama failed in his role as a leader, and now is trying to cover his tracks. The President understands that he is face of these bailouts, and if there is a populist revolt against them, he is likely to take the heat. But in fact, these men knew about these bonuses in October, when they voted for TARP. And people knowledgeable of the situation knew about these bonuses over a year ago (I am talking to you, Sen. Dodd). So for them to now plead ignorance...the only word for that is 'lie'. Robert Gibbs, Mr. Obama's Press Secretary, was asked today what and when the President knew about these bonuses, and had no answer available.

Let us also remember why we are in this predicament. AIG generously supported politicians of both stripes to protect their business. And who were the two biggest beneficiaries? Barack Obama and Chris Dodd. So for them to bite the hand that fed them is hypocritical at best. So Sen. Dodd's about-face on bonuses doubly shows his incompetence and his hypocrisy.

And we have Harry Reid and Chuck Schumer now declaring that they are considering a 100% tax to recoup the bonuses. For those of you that support this idea, think and use your intellect for a second. The moment that our government feels it can tax anyone/anywhere 100%, that is a moment when I am really frightened. That is the kind of action that Hugo Chavez would be proud of. You fail in your role as protectors of the public, so just acquire public wealth as you feel fits your views of the world. This is Pandora's Box, and the Democrats are opening the lid. And let us be honest: if we are going to tax incompetence, shouldn't Congress be at the front of that line?

The only bright spot out of this is that the next bailout will be less palatable to the public. We have gotten into a rut, handing out money for everyone. At some point, in a capitalistic society, someone needs to fail. That is the only way the market can clean up its messes. The only group that has failed so far are our political leaders.

And the response to this? Well, AIG and its workers are suffering. Maybe they deserve it, you think? Well, remember that these were bonuses promised 1 year ago. Just think if the government stepped in and told you that you don't deserve the income you were promised, because the public, the President, or some politicians decided that after 365 days of hard work you just don't deserve what you were promised. There argument is that we, the federal government, now owns 80% of AIG, so we will determine whether you deserve bonuses or not, regardless of whether or not they have a contractual obligation to pay. This has resulted in death threats toward these executives and employees, some coming from politicians! Where exactly is the hate in the political dialogue originating from, the right or the left?

This is class warfare at its worst. I don't like the AIG bailouts one bit, but this was a mess created by politicians. Now, they are trying to cover their tracks by using overbearing government power, socialists principles, and class warfare.

This is a moment when only Hugo Chavez could be proud.